"Katherine Alonge-Coons has a long and distinguished career serving the residents of Rensselaer County. Her efforts in the department I am now asking her to lead have had a profound impact on our ability to provide these services at a minimal cost to the property taxpayers," Jimino said in a statement.

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Alonge-Coons previously worked as the department's director of children's services and has more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field. She assumed her new $100,000-per-year post Dec. 10.

"I look forward to continuing the good work that is being done here by the nearly 100 employees and the subcontractors of the department who day in and day out work diligently to provide quality and effective services to fulfill our mission of empowering and helping all persons to improve their quality of life," the new commissioner said in a statement.

County Legislator Lou Desso, C-North Greenbush, will move into the number two spot in January as deputy commissioner of mental health.

Legislature Chairman Martin Reid said the Republican majority will select a successor in the near future to serve the remaining year of Desso's four-year term. The entire 19-member county Legislature is up for election in 2013.